Mix 106.5

Hounds beat Attack

The Owen Sound Attack found themselves in just too big a hole to crawl out of at the Essar Centre on Friday, Jan. 12.

Trailing 4-0 in the 3rd period, the Attack were able to get goals from Aidan Dudas and Markus Phillips, but that was all the offence they could muster – as the Hounds skated away with a 5-2 victory.

Owen Sound started strong, but just before the game was 8:00 old it was the Greyhounds who opened the scoring after taking advantage of a weird bounce off the end glass.

A shot from the point by Mac Hollowell took a weird hop off of the glass behind Mack Guzda before landing on Morgan Frost’s stick instead of careening along the path of the boards.

Frost deftly fed Taylor Raddysh the biscuit, who then set up Boris Katchouk for a one-timer that made it 1-0 for the Hounds.

Katchouk’s goal was the only tally in the first, a period of hockey that saw both teams generate limited quality scoring chances with a total of just 13 shots directed on the Attack and Hounds’ netminders.

The Attack began the 2nd period with a fair amount of moxie, looking to even things up before Sault Ste. Marie could extend their lead.

Unfortunately for the Bayshore Boys, it was the Hounds who found the back of the net next, making it 2-0 on a Hayden Verbeek snapshot just 3:39 into the 2nd.

It looked like the Soo would increase their lead even further when Ethan Szypula and Trent Bourque found themselves in the sin bin, putting the Attack down a pair of skaters before the midway point of the frame and giving a lethal Soo powerplay a chance to strike.

However, Mack Guzda was up to the task, making a number of ten bell saves to keep the Attack within striking distance before Szypula and Bourque could return to action.

The game held at a 2-0 for for Sault Ste. Marie until a pretty little give-and-go play by Rasmus Sandin and Barrett Hayden saw Sandin make it a three goal lead for the Soo with just over 60 seconds remaining in the 2nd.

The field goal sized advantage for the Hounds quickly became a 4-0 lead when the 3rd period began thanks to another goal by Boris Katchouk just over 3:00 into the final period, but the Attack weren’t about to roll over and play dead.

After a string of penalties to both teams tilted the ice in Owen Sound’s favour by putting the Bears on a 4-on-3 Baywest Nissan Powerplay, Aidan Dudas was able to find the back of the net to end Matthew Villalta’s bid at a shutout.

The Parry Sound native was gifted a goal, easily tapping home a pass from Kevin Hancock with 12:46 to play in regulation to get Owen Sound on the board.

Nick Suzuki also assisted on the play, which precluded a goal by Markus Phillips a few minutes later that made it a 4-2 game.

After a failed clearing attempt in the Soo’s end wound up on Ethan Szypula’s stick, the overage forward quickly flipped the puck to Phillips who made a few moves at the blueline before wristing his 5th of the season into the net.

That was as close as Owen Sound was able to get though, as a late too many men penalty ended any Attack attempt at a comeback, and instead gave Morgan Frost the chance to make it a 5-2 contest with 1:03 to play in regulation, a play that wrapped up the scoring on the night.

Frost was named the Mac Taylor Corporation 1st Star of the Game, while his teammates Boris Katchouk and Barrett Hayton were named 2nd and 3rd stars respectively.

The Mark McDade Chestnut Park Real Estate Shots on Goal finished at 27-22 in favour of Sault Ste. Marie on the evening, with Mack Guzda making 22 stops on the night.

The Attack will now have a day off before concluding their road trip with a Sunday afternoon affair in Sudbury against the Wolves.

Puck drop for that affair is slated for 2:00pm, and fans are reminded that the game will NOT be broadcast live on Rogers Local 53. It will be available through the OHL Live streaming service as well as on Kia of Owen Sound/Terry’s Trailer Service Bear Radio on 560 CFOS.

This season of Attack Hockey is brought to you by Lerners Personal Injury Lawyers and Bertrand & Muzzell Paralegal Services.